MovieChat Forums > NYPD Blue (1993) Discussion > What is wrong with Sipowicz?

What is wrong with Sipowicz?

posted 7 years ago by movieliker1
11 replies | jump to latest

This guy is always in a bad mood. He is often so angry it seems like his head is about to explode.

He has a beautiful wife (Charlotte Ross, yeah, that's realistic), two beautiful kids, and a good job. But be he is always in a bad mood. So bad that he is often rude to everyone and anyone.

And he apparently has been a detective for decades. But just about every criminal he comes across, he acts like he can't believe how bad each person is. And of course it makes him angry. He has been a detective for decades. He has never seen a bad criminal before?

Criminal activity make him mad. But, he is a criminal investigator. It doesn't seem he has the right temperament for the job.

And he is always threatening people. Not very professional.

What is his problem? What is wrong with this guy?

[–] driffter1 7 years ago

I have to admit after getting to Season 12 his attitude towards everything has finally worn me out. I've thought the exact same things as you. Clearly the character functions on a certain aspect of angst and misery, but it gets too much. He deviated from it now and again, but his constant alienation of everyone around him is frustrating, even for a tv show. His overall character is memorable because of it in many ways, but it's a trying experience.

[–] movieliker1 7 years ago

Thank you for agreeing driffter. Watching Sipowicz episode after episode is exhasting.

[–] OnlyRocknRoll 7 years ago

Although the plots/stories were often very good when I used to watch this in prime time, the main reason that I stopped watching was the overly aggressive, intimidating police/detectives. Especially when they laid hands on suspects. Their entire approaches to 'interviews' was completely WRONG. They all should have been sued multiple times for assault.

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[–] movieliker1 7 years ago

I totally agree OnlyRocknRoll. The only thing I can think of is things must have been different back when this show was being aired for the first time. People were not as sensitive to police brutality.

But what gets me more is Sipowicz incredulousness over criminals committing crimes. He acts like he can't believe criminals commit crimes. But he is a veteran criminal detective !!! Then he gets angry. And sometimes he gets physical with the suspects. Seems like he is in the wrong line of work. And he is always in a bad mood.

I like the show. The acting, production, music and writing is good. And the characters are interesting. But I can't figure out what is wrong with Sipowicz.

[–] OnlyRocknRoll 7 years ago

Actually, 'police brutality' was an issue in the 60's and 70's.

There wasn't much backstory on Sipowicz and why he became a cop/detective. We know about his dippy first wife, and the loss of his son Andy Jr. from that marriage, and how Katy tries to snake herself back into his life through Theo after Sylvia is murdered.

I enjoyed the show and his character, but his overbearing rage is never accounted for.

Some people think that his marriage to Connie was not credible. However, the episode when she tried to find the daughter that she gave up (and how poorly that went) she goes to Andy for consolation. They were both very hurt and lonely. She was trying to keep her sisters child and Andy was trying to bring up Theo alone (except for the interference of Katy, and he did use Katy because there was no one else to take care of Theo). Any port in a storm when you are drowning.

_______________________________________
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED??!!

Maximus Decimus Meridius

[–] movieliker1 7 years ago

Actually, 'police brutality' was an issue in the 60's and 70's.

Yes it was. But nobody was doing anything about it. We just knew it existed. And we were supposed to like the cops doing it to supposed bad guys. But watching it today it seems awfully politically incorrect.

There wasn't much backstory on Sipowicz and why he became a cop/detective. We know about his dippy first wife, and the loss of his son Andy Jr. from that marriage, and how Katy tries to snake herself back into his life through Theo after Sylvia is murdered.

Yes, and supposedly he was a recovering alcoholic.

Some people think that his marriage to Connie was not credible. However, the episode when she tried to find the daughter that she gave up (and how poorly that went) she goes to Andy for consolation. They were both very hurt and lonely. She was trying to keep her sisters child and Andy was trying to bring up Theo alone (except for the interference of Katy, and he did use Katy because there was no one else to take care of Theo). Any port in a storm when you are drowning.

Well, you know more than I do about the Sipowicz back story. I didn't know about his first wife either. But that background info on Connie makes their relationship seem more credible.

I enjoyed the show and his character, but his overbearing rage is never accounted for.

I know in drama production actors sometimes overplay their characters in order to show emotion. But, Sipowicz is ridiculous. The other characters on this show don't act like he does. They have personal crises. But they still act realistically and professionally.

I guess he is supposed to be this super messed up character who finds everyday a challenge to get through. But, it seems unrealistic that no one on his squad or on the police force would notice or object to his behavior. Especially with all the ball busting that went on otherwise.

[–] OnlyRocknRoll 7 years ago

Actually, a couple of his partners and squad members did get into it with him about his attitude and behavior. Keep watching the current re-runs.

Did you ever see the ep where he and Fancy duked it out in the restroom?

In addition to being a rageaholic, and an alcoholic, Andy was also a blatant racist.

The character that you love to hate and hate to love.

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ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED??!!

Maximus Decimus Meridius

[–] movieliker1 7 years ago

I think you have partially answered my question OnlyRocknRoll. Apparently Sipowicz was a miserable person who really only wanted to drink himself to death. But his friends, a certain innate sense of right and wrong, and eventually some loving women pulled him kicking and screaming in the right direction. But, as the show went on, he displayed his difficulty dealing day to day with trying to be a responsible person.

[–] tonycarr 7 years ago

I wondered about this. As an Rnglishman I wasn't sure what latitude the Police had in interviewing suspects. To me they are always very aggressive, especially Andy and Baldwin. When I visited New York in 2014 I made sure to stay out of the Police's way! Just in case.

[–] daverindone 7 years ago

I've been rewatching some of the season 9 John Clark storyline and noticed that it was amazing Jr. didn't kill himself after having to work with Andy. Medavoy telling the origin story of "Dutchboy" was hilarious, though. "He got two in the crotch."

[–] McQualude (4231) 7 years ago

Sipowicz isn't very likable but he is entertaining from a television perspective. He talks about his dad being an alcoholic and obviously he is screwed up from 'Nam. There is a scene with Fancy where he talks about blacks giving his family a hard time. He's a complicated character: intelligent, street smart, racist, bigoted, aggressive, patriotic, loyal, kind, fair minded, very conservative politically. I've met people in real life like Sipowicz although not as overtly aggressive all the time, but they probably would be if they were cops and could get away with it. What surprises me most is that everyone just lets him do it, which is true generally in real life too I guess. Fancy, Bobby, and Martinez are the only ones to stand up to him that I remember.